There was not a seat to spare

Docklands hosts fashion spectacular

By Nicola St John - Photo by Meg Grant

Central Pier set the scene for the L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival opening night with the sizable venue sold-out for the glamorous evening. The champagne was brimming on entry to the “block-party”-styled outdoor party, where the lights and cameras mingled with designers and tottering starlets.

Watching the eccentrically-dressed crowd almost took over from the anticipation of the runway, with the collections on show focused on wearable, consumer-easy pieces. The entire show was available to purchase from David Jones – simply view the item on the runway and then purchase then and there on the LMFF iPhone app.

There was not a seat to spare as Aboriginal model Samantha Morris opened the show down the 30 metre, white-tiled runway. Collections by Collette Dinigan, Lover, Scanlan and Theodore, Carl Kapp and Alannah Hill showed winter’s new look of tailored shapes, muted colour palettes and contrasting prints and fabrics.

Departing from summer’s bright colour-blocking and big bold prints, these collections showed a more subtle side to fashion, with shades reminiscent of autumn leaves and prints smaller and more refined than summer’s brashness.

Camilla showed ethereal flowing dresses with tribal mismatched prints and metallic detailing, Ginger and Smart mixed striped with batik prints while Camilla and Marc stuck with florals.

The biggest addition to your winter wardrobe this season will be something blue. Several collections showing a variation of the blue coat from a soft trench to a tailored military style stiff coat as well as knitwear dresses and slim-line pants. Shades were bright but not outlandish, ranging from navy to cobalt.